Global Family education sponsorship is a program of the Mennonite Central Committee.

"Dawn went to the Middle East to interact with the other schools," Shank said.

For international conflict resolution to work, Shank added, "we have to tie it to peace and connect with and love our neighbors."

Graber said that she visited six schools in Jordan and Palestine.

"My mission was to get to know the people and learn what we can about them," Graber said.

Daron Nouri, 7, is in first grade.

"My country is Kenya," he said. Daron and his classmates have begun raising money for Menno Kids Academy.

"They don't have McDonald's, or malls or movies," Daron said.

"They don't have any money for books or school supplies either," he added.

Zach Perron, 12, and his sixth- grade class are raising money for Seeds of Hope in Colombia. While researching Colombia, Zach found that more than 50 percent are Christian; "but Colombia is not free like we are."

Zach said that he hopes the people will turn to God so that they may lead a free life and live well.

Lauren Henry's senior class is sponsoring Matabelel and North in Zimbabwe.

"In general Zimbabwe has a lot of economic problems — we learned about them in Econ class," Lauren said.

Lauren said that she learned that girls were recently allowed to attend educational classes but because they have no desks, they sit on rocks.

"We are so privileged; I have all of the materials that I need to be successful," Lauren said.

"I think sometimes we take a lot of things for granted," she added.

Nicaragua's Place of Hope school is sponsored by the sophomore class.

"The average Nicaraguan only makes $100 a year — that means no school supplies for the kids," said Youvany Ovalle.

He said that his class is collecting funds and supplies "so that the kids can learn and better themselves."

Brittany Swart's eighth-grade class is sponsoring Education First in Tanzania, the kindergarten class has Kids House in Iraq.

Cambodian Angkearhei Primary School belongs to Sarasota Christian's second grade class, and third grade has Guarderia Moises in Bolivia.

The Latin Patriarchate School in Palestine, Hope School in Burundi, Arab Episcopal in Jordan and Northwest Schools in Bangladesh are sponsored by fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth grades.

Kelsey Murphy, 16, is a junior; her class is raising money for Sunrise and Hope in Palestine.

"It's Shoroq wa-Amal, on the Gaza Strip," Kelsey said. "And it's kind of a refugee camp for kids from 6 to 16.

"I learned a lot about the area and it's sad — there are a lot of orphans and they use this camp as a safe place."

Kelsey said that the kids are "Christians and Muslim — and some are nothing — but they all need hope.

"We are excited about the program," she continued. "We want to tell the world that we are excited and want to get to know you."